Vint,

the drive you point is supported but not directly. The the device you point
is actually re-writable CD recorder which can be thought similar to WORM
device (but is not the same). This kind of media IS supported in TSM
through REMOVABLE FILE device class :
"When you use CD-ROM media for the REMOVABLEFILE device type, the library
type must be MANUAL. You access the media through a mount point, for
example, /dev/cdx, where x is a number that is assigned by your operating
system. Use the device manufacturer's operating system utilities to format
(if necessary) and label the media. "
So after a file (in file pool) creation AND fill up you can write it to a
CD using scripts and tools like mkisofs+cdrecord. I do not know about
Solaris but those work on AIX.
I can recommend this to be used only for copy pools leaving you with two
choices - too many disks for primary pool or again good (old) tapes.
IMHO this device class is good to be used for backupsets and maybe DB
backups.

Zlatko Krastev
IT Consultant





Vint Maggs <vint.maggs AT SRS DOT GOV> on 29.10.2001 16:46:29
Please respond to "ADSM: Dist Stor Manager" <ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU>
To:     ADSM-L AT VM.MARIST DOT EDU
cc:

Subject:        Optical Drives

Hello All,
        I have been given the task of evaluating whether or not TSM is the
appropriate vehicle for long term archiving.  As part of this process I
plan on installing the latest version of TSM on Solaris 8.  I am
interested in which type of optical drive you may be using.  I will not be
testing optical libraries, just a drive.  I have reviewed the list of
supported devices and I am surprised by the lack of support beyond a few
(4) manufacturers. I was thinking of using the Plextor 12/10/32S External
SCSI CD-RW drive but it is not supported.
        As part of the testing I was planning on determining whether or
not  the data I write using TSM requires a TSM server or client to
recover. Obviously if the data has to be retained for any great length of
time I would prefer to avoid any proprietary formats.
        If you have a TSM/Solaris environment with Optical devices, I am
interested in hearing your experiences.

Thanks,
Vint